>> thank you. our executive producer jennifer williams this is her last day. we'll wish her well as she moved to california for love, which is the best reason to move. i'm dana. here's shep. >> are you ready for this? >> are you prepared to go to prison for this? >> shepard: our reporting begins with the decision on the matter and breaking news in boston. we're minutes from a judge announcing his decision on whether the actress, felicity huffman will go to prison in the college admissions cheating scandal. huffman is set to be the first parent sentenced in the nationwide scheme involving dozens of wealthy parents and celebrities accused of paying big money to get their kids to top universities. the judge is in the courtroom now and providing over and both sides are talking. huffman, admit shed paid $15,000 to have somebody fix the answers on her daughter's sat to boost

her score. huffman pled guilty and beg the judge to spare her from going to prison and thought she was being a good nom and giving her daughter a fair shot and realizes now it was quite the opposite of fair. the prosecutors pushing for at least one month of prison time. they say probation or health arrest for a person link in the hollywood hills with an infinity pool isn't enough to deter others and her husband and desperate housewives co-star, eva longoria are among dozens who sent letters to the judge vouching huffman's character. we'll go to the courthouse for a live report from our correspondent and we have two legal minds to walk us through because it's a sliver of the case that are come months to

come. some have pleaded others are fighting including laurie laughlin. cheating, celebrity and influence that comes with that. huffman's friends wrote letters to the court and huffman did as well. the one she wrote to the judge is revealing. after taking responsibility for her actions in that letter, felicity huffman writes, i keep asking myself why did do i this. why did i break the law and compromise my integrity. what interior forces drove me to do it. how can i abandon my own morale compass and common sense. those questions require a longer answer which involve factual and personal responses i'll attempt to give you insight into both. felicity huffman goes on to do both of those. details of her daughter's childhood and issues with her

child at school and so much more. and then in the 19 paragraph letter she writes, i honestly didn't and don't care about my daughter going to a prestigious college. i just wanted to give her a shout at being considered for a program where her acting talent would be the deciding factor. this sounds hollow now but in my mind, i knew that her success or failure in theatre or film wouldn't depend on her math skills, i didn't want my daughter to be prevented from getting a shot at auditioning and doing what she love because she can't do math. after nearly a year of working with mr. singer the man who mast mined this and his daughtered he told me it wasn't enough. sophia math scores were not measuring up. we still had a serious problem and according to him, he had a solution. huffman writes, he told me, we will make sure she gets the scores she needs by having a proctor bump up her scores after

she takes the test. in other words, by cheating. continuing her writing, sophia would never know i'd done it. concentrate on what really matters her grades and auditions. he said, he did it for many of his students. huffman writes, i was shocked such a thing existed and after he made the initial suggestion it remained on the table. i couldn't make up my mind for six wee six. -- six weeks. i had a sense of panic there was a huge obstacle that had to be fixed and as warped as it sounds i began to feel maybe i would be a bad mother if i didn't do what mr. singer was suggesting. to my utter shame, she writes, i finally agreed to cheating on sophia's sat scores and considered doing the same for georgia but i knew it wasn't

right and told him to stop the process for georgia, the other daughter. after writing a bit about herself, she wrote, to the judge, this, i have a deep and abiding shame over what i've done. shame and regret they will carry for the rest of my life. it is right they should carry this burden and use it as fuel for change in my own life and hopefully it will be a cautiousry tale for my daughters and the community as painful as all of this has been i'm truly grateful for the lessons i've learned and the opportunity to change and live more honestly. i'm now focussed on repairing my relationship with my daughter, my family and making amends to my community. thank you for reading my letter. i appreciate the let tore explain but not excuse my actions. we'll show her fate shortly. moments ago the prosecutors

spoke in the courtroom and it's a federal courtroom so we can't have cameras but the government said speaking in open court the defendant must go to jail for one month because the action she engaged in is prison. she told you the crime result from the bewilderment of being a mom, welcome to parenthood. it's terrifying and stressful. what parenthood does not do is make you a felon. it does not make you a cheat. the prosecutor went on to say, we all want the best to give them an edge, most parents have a moral compass not to step over the line. the defendant didn't. this was a purposeful criminal act and noted an increase could trigger an investigation and mulled it over, participated in the scheme, she lied to move the

test and happy with the result she paid singer $15,000 and considered doing it again. she sent the scores to colleges nationwide but for her arrest she would have scheduled. this is not a blunder or mistake. this was intentional. she showed contempt for the law and should be punished for her actions. similarly situated defendants should also go to jail for their crimes. now we wait. felici felicity huffman and her husband are in court as we speak and sat with papers in arms and listened to the judge and now they're going through the process and we'll learn whether she will go to prison, not jail. prison. we're live outside the court house in boston. >> our producer's inside and

they talked about felicity huffman arriving smiling thanking court officers and the pros kuf prosecutors have confirmed to the judge they want the one-month in prison. they argue this is really about fairness. it's where the case has brought us to today. this recommendation arguing all about all about parenthood and asked for leniency based on her efforts to help her children. prosecutors say it doesn't make you a felon or a cheat. we all want to give them an edge. most parents have a morale compass not to step over the line. this defendant didn't she has c confessed to the crime and the payment to rich singer facilitating this talented test taker to cheat on her daughter's sat examine. the prosecutors said it was intentional. the judge has gone back and

forth even the probation department seemingly giving fas felicity huffman a break talking about the test taking sentencing guidelines and talking about probation. the 250 hours that have been requested on the part of her attorneys. they have suggested she spend time with disadvantaged youth. the prosecutors are just ending their speaking with the judge and the judge confirming that's what they want at this point in time. shep. >> shepard: we'll be back to you as news warrants. first, legal analysis. a former federal prosecutor, alex what do you think is coming? >> i think she's likely to get probation. this crime and it hit level is almost always going to result in

probation. that wasn't a lot of money in stake. it was in the world of fraud a small fraud. not to say what she did wasn't morally reprehensible and unlikely to land her in prison. >> shepard: when i heard the federal government was asking for one month and last time the prosecution asked for 11 months and the defendant got a month. >> when you ask for a month you have to feel ashamed. what are you take case where you want somebody to go to jail for 30 days. that's a case you see in misdemeanor court. it's not the reason we have the federal government and resources to prosecute people. >> shepard: there's a bigger picture here. you don't need anybody with money paying off sats and keeping other people out. i don't know how you approach it

if not this way. >> the rich and famous pay to get their kids to college every day. colleges want donors and want rich parents to send their kids to school and get lots of money. it's clear if the huffman spent millions donating to the alumni fund, their daughter probably would have gotten in that way. this is a whole rage of behavior that probably doesn't deserve federal scrutiny. >> shepard: it's been my experience that no matter what you give if you don't have the math grades at the minimum of an institution, you don't have them. >> i think it's true and goes back to the real crime. the allegation is the university was defrauded. i think there's ways people defraud universities that don't deserve the fbi to have guns drawn and effectuate an arrest

warrant in the middle of the night. you have a felony conviction that's a real consequence. she'll be a felon the rest her life. in our society that's a big deal. >> shepard: what did you make of the prosecutor's words today? the words themselves not the asking of the time to be served but the words seem kind of strong. >> they had to be. the only reason you can justify this case from the federal government's perspective is to second a message and say hey, folks in this position, you can't do this you'll have consequences and they interest to -- have to prevent others from doing the same in the and it's reprehensible. >> shepard: alex little live from nashville. thanks for sticking with us. the bigger question is will the college admissions scam be a

career killer or is a come-back possible for felicity hoffman and laurie lauchlin. we'll hear from a celebrity crisis manager who worked with the biggest stars in the business. in a little while our own judge napolitano will come along and we'll have the decision and if year in commercial break we'll break out of it to bring it to you lives -- live as our reporting continues this friday afternoon. d most of that debt is actually from credit cards.

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including pancreatitis. tell your doctor if you have diabetic retinopathy or vision changes. taking ozempic® with a sulfonylurea or insulin may increase the risk for low blood sugar. common side effects are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, and constipation. some side effects can lead to dehydration, which may worsen kidney problems. i discovered the potential with ozempic®. ♪ oh! oh! oh! ozempic®! ♪ (announcer) if eligible, you may pay as little as $25 per prescription. ask your health care provider today about once-weekly ozempic®. we're waiting to learn the punishment actress, felicity huffman and the judge to hand it down. huffman pleaded guilty and admitted she paid $15,000 to boost her older daughter's sat scores. but the other big name in this case, the former full house

actress, laurie laughlin has taken approach. they're fighting the charges and they paid $500,000 to get their daughters into university of southern california. i read for you the note felicity huffman sent to the court and now her lawyer is speaking inside the court and said to the judge, i don't see probation as a joke. we take this very seriously, this is the judge. she said i don't see probation as a joke. we take this seriously. i understand you can have a bro base -- probation sentence. i need make sure the right sentence. the court said not treat her favorable because of her wealth. the overwhelming percentage in similar guidelines only five were sentenced to jail and they had aggravating factors. meaning other things involved

besides just the cheating and all the rest and felicity huffman's lawyer said we don't seek to minimalize what she did, the amount paid, she did not enlist her daughter or contend her daughter is someone she is not and when she had the opportunity to do it again for her second daughter she said no. the lawyer goes on, she said it just didn't seem right. that was a litmus test of her character. she knew what she did was wrong and her morale compass was reset, felicity huffman's lawyer speaking to the judge and she said, yes, felicity huffman is successful from luck, talent and hard work. i would never suggest she be treated differently because she's wealthy and famous. it can't be the case she's treated more harshly. the law requires a just sentence for every defendant, whether they are rich, whether they are poor, famous.

inprisonment is not a default setting. probation could be a deterrent. the quences are her own doing. her daughter is not going school next year. the ramifications continue and the consequences are likely to continue. it doesn't follow a sentence of prison will deter other and they said all this aside she is a good person. she did on one occasion lose sight of her morale compass long before her arrest she made the decision to right the ship and said no to testing for her second daughter. she's pleaded guilty. the lawyers have come forward and the only matter now is does she go to prison. felicity huffman is now speaking to the court inside the courtroom at this moment. i'm getting a transcript of what

felicity huffman is saying. again, this is all going on the day of sentencing. after you plead guilty, then then make decisions about what the punishment should be and here is what felicity huffman has just said in court. i'm sorry to you judge and the colleges and students and parentses and this is a transcript from the court reporter and sent to us. it's not meant to be verbatim. i'll continue now, felicity huffman says, i'm sorry to my daughters and my husband. i have betrayed them all. my mind keeps returning to the 30-minute drive to the testing center. i keep thinking turn around and cries in courtroom according to our producer. felicity huffman goes on speaking to the judge saying, i don't know who you are anymore, mom. why didn't you believe me.

this is her daughter speaking to felicity huffman. i don't know who you are mom. why didn't you believe me? i had no answer. i could only say i'm so sorry to my daughter sophia. i was frightened and stupid and so wrong. speaking to the judge now, felicity huffman saying i'm deeply ashamed. i've done more damage than i can ever imagine. i realize now with my mothering that love and truth go hand in hand. felicity huffman says i take full responsibility for my actions and accept whatever punishment you give me and then felicity huffman according to our producer in the courtroom, cries yet again while speaking to the judge. so it's been an extremely emotional day. first the letter from felicity huffman to the court itself explaining the background on all of this. explaining what she did in her mind, what was going on at the time, expressing remorse for all of it but admitting i cheated. i paid someone to change the sat

score of my daughter because it's math. i wanted her in theatre. that's the place where she's best. she's never going to need math. so by cheating i gave her help in math to get into the school. of course, all that is illegal and she's now pleaded guilty. the prosecutor argued vociferously for prison time and said it must happen to set an example for others to show others in fact doing this is illegal and if you do it, you will pay a price. and the prosecutor has said in the minds of the federal government, the government of the united states of america, the lawyers representing the government say she should spend one month in prison. that's our recommendation. of course, felicity huffman's lawyers are trying to make the argument whether successfully or not we should know in a moment probation is also punishment.

the lawyers saying felicity huffman realized she made a turn in the middle of it all and paid to cheat for one daughter and realized and made a course correction along the way and said she was sorry and since gone through enormous turmoil in her life and her daughter is not going college next semester and felicity huffman known to peopleal over the country crying before the judge, asking for mercy, not skirting our responsibilities or pretending she did anything wrong but taking full responsibility for all she's done while saying as a result of what i've done, i should get probation. this will always be with me. the ramifications for my family are enormous and what i want is to be put on probation. her husband is there with her, william h. macy the well-known act there in the courtroom and there they sit waiting for the judge to make a decision. it's been going on now for almost an hour. and throughout the course of all

of it, there have been i'm not sure of the exact number but numerous letters of character explaining in more depth who felicity huffman is. how it is she's conducted her life. what kind of mother she is. all the rest of the things explaining to the judge her moral character, her moral compass. felicity huffman has a career ahead of her or doesn't or has freedom ahead of her or doesn't. in a moment we'll learn from a judge what the judge's decision on all this is. remember, there are many people caught up in this cheating scam. some have copped a plea. some have gotten probation time and others are fighting. laurie laughlin is one of those doing the fighting and her case honestly is just beginning. while we wait for the judge to speak in court, trace galler has more on that case.

>> nobody is watching the case more than laurie laughlin and her husband because they're the ones as you said will fight this whole thing. the question now becomes if felicity huffman gets any jail time at all and you talk to different experts and they'll give different answers. even if she gets 15 days or 30 days, that spells doom for laurie laughlin and her husband if they lose this case because remember, prosecutors want them to spend months in federal prison and laurie laughlin and her husband paid $500,000 to get their kids to the university of southern california. remember the way they did that. they took phonee -- phony pictures of their kids in crew gear to get them on the crew

team though neither one of their daughters had ever rowed at all and the whole master mind of the scheme which is the nexus for felicity huffman and laurie laughlin and about 30 other families is rick singer who ran this college admission scandal out of newport beach, california. he got celebrities and families to put up money sometimes for testing and to get their kids into big colleges. we're talking about colleges in texas. we hear a lot about the university of southern california and other schools, ucla and other schools in california involved in this and the question becomes if felicity hu huffman gets 30 days, 15 days, you know there's works with the lawyers and laurie laughlin saying well, instead of going trial, maybe we want to settle

this before we have to defend themselves because then they're severely looking at two years in prison. >> shepard: the process underway right now, we both covered local court for years and years going back multiple cities. it's a grueling experience for everybody involved. >> right now in the next 15 minutes, 20 minutes felicity huffman will know where she stands but the rest of the families are just beginning the process and the federal government spent millions prosecuting this. for them, they want a victory and a victory for them today means felicity huffman spends 15 or 30 days in jail, they know the money's well spent. if she gets probation, it's not the end of the world because they still have other cases to go but spent a lot of money and put sweat equity into these types of cases and want to

send sends? much -- send signals to the rest of the country and what they want more than anything else is set examples and you said it's important for felicity huffman but she's going to know her fate in the pavement 15 minutes. laurie laughlin may not know her fate for the next year or 18 months depending on how long they can drag this out and when hay see because we're focussing on felicity huffman but there's a bunch of other families in southern california awaiting their turn before the judge and in a month you'll find out what other families who are accused of lesser charges who pled to lesser charges are about to get and when you get the totality of the evidence and the sentences handed down then the people like laurie laughlin and their attorneys will know what they're facing. if huffman and other families get nothing and slaps on the wrist, laurie laughlin and

mossimo will say let's fight this because we'll get six or five months in jail. that's not a proper assessment because the judge will tell you the cases are different. when you cheat your kid $500,000 into usc, that's a whole different world than paying $15,000 to get your kid sat scores bumped up a little bit. shep. >> shepard: certainly. we have a number of people in the courtroom. among them are our partners at boston 25 which is the fox television station in boston. they're reporter robert gullson is in the courtroom giving us a play-by-play because we don't have cameras in the courtroom. he said huffman was apologizing to students and colleges and everyone she impacted with her decision to do this. he writes, huffman remembers the 20-minute drive to the testing

site that sunday morning and remembers telling herself, turn around and then according to he reporter, she begins to breakdown as she admits what she says is eternal because she didn't. let's turn to fox news judge napolitano. what's appropriate for what's happened? >> that's a good question. there's no definite answer. some judges believe they should send a message to the world that this behavior is nefarious and good people who should have been been school were bumped in favor of your kids and the punishment must fit the crime. other judges just sentence the defendant on the basis of the harm the defendant kauccaused.

trace is correct. the bribe is the same if you bribe someone with 15,000 or $500,000 but the judge has the option to increase the sentence significantly because of the vast difference in the amount of money and the $500,000 instance. >> shepard: taken in the aggregate here, what is your take on what we're seeing, the way it's playing out, what the future may look like? >> we have a very aggressive donald trump appointed u.s. attorney who believed he had stumbled on the tip of an iceberg of endemic cheating around the country and he may very well be correct. we have a federal judge who doesn't care for this case and said several times, doesn't the federal government have better things to do and should have been resolved in the civil space and children who lost spaces

because somebody unqualified got in because their parents bribed people should sue the colleges rather than involving the criminal justice system and the judge has manifested that view with at least two very light sentencings. we don't know what will happen today and there's more to follow. but she has not pleased the prosecutors. >> shepard: we're of the impression that we're close to g getting a sentence in a moment. while we do that, what we have witnessed or read about in the courtroom today the letters of support and character witnesses, the felicity huffman pleading her case and prosecutors pleading their case. is this fairly standard or amped up as a result of the attention it's receiving? >> full disclosure i wrote a

character reference not for felicity huffman but for another person who has yet to be sentenced and read these and the character references maybe influenced me once or twice because the law requires the judge to keep emotion out of it and just to sentence the crime and sentence in accord with the harm caused by the crime. however, judge are human beings and occasionally someone will write something that strikes accord and occasionally they'll say let's bring in a wheelbarrow full of letters because it can't hurt. >> shepard: the producers in the courtroom just informed us the sentence is being read now.

the judge -- we know it's being read at in the courtroom as we speak. the judge is handing down the sentence now. sometimes my experience has been a judge lays out reasons for and against and gives their own opinion and sometimes the judge says here it is, let's me of on. it appears this is the former. >> she has a checklist in front of her, shep, she's supposed to go through. if she fails to go through that checklist and there's about 20 items on either side called aggregating and mitigating factor written by the congress because it's a federal court and federal crime. and she fails to go through that checklist and explain what is

aggravating about the case and mitigating and how they affected her chink -- thinking, she could be exposed to a reversal so it is almost a given the judge will go through that checklist in order to influence her sentence from the likelihood of an appeal. >> shepard: here's what's happening right now. the judge said huffman has the smallest bribe, she did not involve the child, she did not repeat the crime, she knew what she did was wrong and trying to be a good mother does not excuse any of this. in addition, we have this, this is from another reporter in the courtroom, trying to be a good mother doesn't excuse, said the judge. so the judge is going through a list of what sounds to be like

classic aggravating, mitigating and it sounds boiler plate. >> sometimes you go through the list and literally check it off out loud, number one, number two, number three. sometimes you do it in a colloquial way. >> shepard: the sentence is in. felicity huffman will spend 14 days in prison. 14 days in prison is the sentence for paying $15,000 to have the sat scores changed for her daughter trying to get to college admitting she dit. the question is what the punishment would be. the government asked for 30 days in prison. the defense said we believe the punishme punishment has been enough. we want probation and nothing more. along the way, felicity huffman went to great length to apologize and paying for the

changing of the sat scores and saying she realized the error of her ways and saying her child, sophia, is not even going to college now. her life is in shambles as a result and what's happened already is enough. sentence me to probation. the judge decided otherwise. judge, napolitano this is not a sentence of 14 days in the county jail but in prison. felicity huffman is going to prison. >> she'll be incarcerated for about 10 or 11 days depending on the time of day she gets there and leaves because you serve 85% of your time in the federal system. i don't know where they'll send her, frankly, shep, and i'm not making light of this, i've never heard of a federal sentence this low, they may keeper in the lock up in boston adjacent to the federal courthouse rather than

getting her settled in a long-term facility. the question is will she do it tonight. she has the option. >> shepard: alex little a former defense attorney and federal prosecutor and thought it may go to probation. your thought. >> i agree with your judge. it's a low sentence. this is as close to probation as you can get. she'll have to be depained. the bureau of prisons doesn't usually deal with people less than 30-day sentences. when you went to the factors i read them as they came through. the judge talked about general deterrents. you have to try to deter people from committing this crime and why she thought a straight probation wasn't sufficient. she had to send a signal, it's cheating, it may not be the

greatest form of cheating but you need to pay a punishment more visceral than just going on probation. >> shepard: and more now, alex, the full sentence, 14 days imprisonment, $30,000 fine, supervised probation and 250 hours of community service. >> i think if you're felicity huffman community service you should do whether you're sentenced to or not. she needs to make amends to the community for what she's done and to show she's learned her lesson. her letter to the judge and speech clearly shows remorse but the sennence -- sentence is more in line what she did. >> shepard: molly line is inside. do you have anything on what was happening in the courtroom, what the relation -- reactions were? >> i'm not seeing anything specific but there's more information coming as far as what the judge has put forward in the case saying to huffman for your rehabilitation you can

move forward and rebuild your life after this. without the sentence i think the community around you would ask you why you got away with this. huffman's attorney is asking she ask in dublin, california closer to where she lives. her attorneys wanted probation and community service instead we're seeing this rather short prison term with the 14 days of incarceration. the big question as we look to the next two months or so at the federal court before the judge, there's a number of other defendants that have pled in the case expected to be at sentencing hearings through september and october. many will go before the same judge. so does this sentence imposed on huffman set a benchmark in the case? is this something they can look to as a road map forward. she's apologized and been contrite and sobbed about the judge openly apologizing to the

judge and students. is this a road they want to walk and potentially could they see the same outcome. that's something we'll being watching in the next couple of months ahead. shep. >> shepard: trace gallagher with us. you were talking about what sort of message this would send to laurie laughlin fighting this thing. >> and if you're laurie laughlin and her husband sitting in your malibu home watching this you're freaking out because you're between a rock and hard spot. have you chosen to fight this case and it means you're going go to court and see if you can get a not guilty verdict. the question becomes are the attorneys on the phone women -- phone with them saying maybe we plead the case and maybe if we paid $500,000 to cheat our kids into the university of southern california if felicity huffman looks at 14 days for $15,000 to

boot the sat score how much is the couple spending $500,000 going to spend in jail for that crime. judge napolitano saying the crime is supposed to be equal but judge are human and when you spend $500,000 and dupe people and get coaches fired and cheat with photos of your kids in outfits and athletic gear they've never been in before it brings is to a different level and now when prosecutors say they want three years for laughlin and her husband and wanted 30 days for felicity huffman and she got 14. maybe laurie laughlin and her husband are thinking they're looking at a year and a half in prison. >> he >> shepard: thank you very much. our reporter was inthe courtroom and gave us the details of what happened and they'll be released in a moment. we have a crisis p.r. type about

reviving a career after this and felicity huffman going to prison for 14 days. the news continues after this. saturdays happen. pain happens. aleve it. aleve is proven better on pain than tylenol. when pain happens, aleve it. all day strong.

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is sentenced, 14 days in jail and fine and supervised probation and community service after admitting to cheating and plea agreements limit the right of appeal. as a result the rights are limited but could appeal on the grounds of ineffectiveness of counsel, whether she'll do that is an open question. ms. huffman is not a danger to flee and judge napolitano she'll be able to decide, to some level, when she serves the prison time. i mentioned our producer was in the courtroom and we know felicity huffman was crying as

she was reading her letter to the judge and we'll get more in a moment. first, let's bring in ross johnson, founder of johnson public relations, formerly head of the strategic department of the largest relations firm, pbkm & c and it represents major celebrities including sandra bullock and robert downey jr. your thoughts on how you might begin to fix this from a celebrity business standpoint? >> well, from a celebrity standpoint, she deserves a second chance. she checked the boxes. if she wants to continue a

hollywood career she has every right to do so and the community will accept her. >> shepard: any thoughts how she's handled it to this far. >> she's had great lawyers and never tried to say she was a victim. her public appearances outside the courtroom and didn't turn into a red carpet movement and laid low which is classic in today's news cycle a classic thing you see she hasn't been photographed much at all. she's not ticking the engine. >> shepard: judge pa poll >> shepar >> shepard: felicity huffman must report and she judge said to others in the courtroom and felicity huffman i wish you look and huffman said, thank you,

your, honor and that was that. should she in your estimation come forward and say something now or have another moment of contrition or what would be your advice? >> i don't think the press conference thing is appropriate at all. it opens up a whole pandora's box. release a statement. do the time. quickly do it and if she chooses she will have an opportunity to be cast in probably some pretty good roles. >> shepard: we're expecting felicity huffman and others to walk through the doors in a moment. we'll stand by for that. trace galler with information on where she'll be housed. >> you heard molly line she prefers to be housed in the all-womens facility in northern

california. that's the closest all-female prison and she lives in southern california and she'll have to report by october 25. if she gets her way and goes to dublin. it's an all-women's prison. 1200 people is the capacity and there's a low-security prison and there's a medium security prison and it's housed the famous hollywood madame and pat pat pat patty hearst it's a low-level security facility. if she gets her way that's the destination she could be at in a

month and a half. >> shepard: the judge said i'm imposing a $30,000 fine and one-year probation, 250 hours of community service and 14 days in prison. that's the sentness i think is the -- sentence is the write sentence and said for her rehabilitation you can move forward without the sentence i think the community around you would ask why you got away with this. judge napolitano thoughts on that? >> it's a little heavier thane expected but the rationale was right on the mark expresses the community outrage consistent with the sentencing guidelines and bullet-prof on appeal. >> shepard: i'm reading reaction from viewers and others on social media and beyond. it runs the gamut. why would they give her this time when others have gotten probation up to if this had been me or someone i know i'd been in

for years and years. >> folks don't understand how federal sentences go. here the public knows more about the circumstances and the moral wrong of the conduct strikes people and it should result in a long prison sentence and you hear people say she should be in the slammer for years and consistent with the practitioners of zero days was likely but 14 days is not outside the normal. it effects whether others go to trial. i think laurie laughlin and other defendants will take this to trial. i think they see the opportunity if they lose at trial, the sentence is not going to be particularly harsh. >> shepard: in laurie laughlin they were recommending six to 12

months. >> yes, if they've gone the plea route. the judge determined one of the ways we get to a sentence is the monetary issue and there was no real loss by the universities and that will change the calculations will effect how defendants like laurie laughlin decide to go to trial. >> shepard: william h. macy from inside the courtroom from our eyes and ears, puts his arms around his wife and she signs paperwork and puts his arm around her back and consoling. macy joins his wife on the bench at the right side of the courtroom and chatting with probationary services with her husband. felicity huffman just released a

statement of her own this is after the sentencing. i accept the court's decision without reservation. i've always been prepare to accept whatever judgment was imposed. i broke the law. i've admitted that and pleaded guilty to the crime. there are no excuses or justifications for my actions, period. she goes on. i would like to apologize again to my daughter, my husband, my family and the educational community for my actions apologize to the students who work hard every day to get into college and their parents who make tremendous sacrifices supporting their children. i've learned a lot over the last six months of my flaws as a person. i look forward to doing my community service hours and making a positive impact on my community and plan to continue to make contributions wherever i can after the service hours are completed. i can promise you in the months and years to come, i will try to live a more honest life, serve

as a better role model for my daughters and family and continue to contribute my time and energies wherever i'm needed. my hope is my family, friends and community will forgive me for my actions. no mention of incarceration. that could be because it was pre-he -- pre-prepared. judge napolitano. sometimes there's an elephant in the room and for me is the you said you wrote a letter on behalf of somebody. what more can you tell me about that? >> i don't want to tell you who it was though it is a public document -- >> shepard: it will likely be public. >> yes, i person i went to college with i've known 50 years. and when you write a letter like this, you don't minimize the crime or attack the government. you just try to inform the judge

of something good about the person's past that the probation department might not know about. that's what you try to do. you do it with deference and respect and hope it resonates. as i told you and i told my friend of the thousands of letters i read one or two moved me one way or another. >> shepard: i mentioned a little while ago the judge said she thought this was the right sentence because she didn't believe the community around her would let her move on unless she was seen to have paid a sacrifice, in this case incarceration. is that what you say to somebody who is or isn't a celebrity without exception? >> i don't think the celebrity status should influence the sentencing or think it did. you sentence the crime and not the person. this undermines the argument of

the social media you just read somebody claiming he or she would have gotten a few years for that. theoretically that's nonsense. you're supposed to sentence the crime no matter how well known the criminal has become. >> shepard: the judge insisting that's what she did today and we're expecting felicity huffman and her husband, william h. macy will walk out of the doors at any moment. it's possible she might speak. i read you the statement she released on her behalf. court has broken up but folks are still inside so we wait to hear from them. i'm informed neil cavuto will have the camera up should any parties speak we'll take you there. so, 14 days in prison for felicity huffman. now i have a secret, anybody remember jane skinner? she used to be in skinnerville back when the program was studio

b? show was fantastic and would read the news and then we'd talk about things and she went on to have a life. tuesday she's back. jane skinnerville tuesday on this program. do not miss it. >> thank you, shepard. you may have heard a thing or two in the last hour with the courts with a good deal of attention to hollywood, felicity huffman has been sentenced to 14 days in prison for paying $15,000 to rig her daughter's sat scores and make them higher in a college admissions scandal that eclipsed dozens of celebrities and notable names. all of whom were watching closely. we're waiting for felicity huffman to get outside that court house. she has accepted the